Warner Bros. Discovery announced a proposed closure of a major NZ news brand, the OCR remained at 5.5%, and a 'very large' wasp nest was discovered in Martinborough.
1 Newshub set to close by end of June, staff told
Warner Bros. Discovery, which runs both Three and Newshub, invited staff to an 11am meeting to announce that "Newshub's multiplatform news operations and output" is set to close at the end of June.
Politicians from across the spectrum reacted to the news, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon describing it as "shocking and saddening", and Broadcasting Minister Melissa Lee calling it a "huge shock".
Veteran broadcaster and former TV3 political editor Bill Ralston told 1News the imminent axing was "a tragedy" and a "sad day" not only for Newshub staff, but the media market and the whole country.
The brand's imminent demise marks the end of news on TV3, delivered to New Zealanders for a turbulent 34 years.
2 Chch terrorist posted about attacks years before March 15
Researchers from the University of Auckland have discovered that the Christchurch mosque terrorist had been publicly posting about his plans up to a year before the March 15 attacks. They combed through thousands of posts from the online forum 4chan, investigating his online history.
3 Official cash rate remains at 5.5%
The RBNZ's decision was announced this afternoon following the Monetary Policy Committee's first review of the year. The move is the fifth time the central bank has decided to hold the OCR steady. Some major banks had trimmed their rates ahead of the update, while it's been tipped the OCR may fall at some point.
4 'Told to move on': Rough sleepers describe restless nights in Rotorua
As homeless are told to leave his city's reserves, Anaru Hauiti thinks about a night shelter – a safe place that could help keep him from the bottle. If Rotorua had one, he would "love" to stay there and avoid the fractured sleep on the streets, waking at noises to check whether his things were being stolen.
5 'Higher levels' of reckless driving based for rise in fatal accidents
The NZ Automobile Association has expressed concerns of reckless behaviour on New Zealand roads causing an increasing proportion of fatal accidents following an analysis of previous holiday periods. Three quarters of fatal crashes over the two previous Christmas-New Year holiday periods involved alcohol and/drugs or a vehicle occupant not wearing a seatbelt – frequently both.
ONE 'VERY LARGE' WASP NEST
Climate change could be behind the abnormal size of this German wasp nest discovered in Martinborough. Victoria University of Wellington entomologist Phil Lester said due to low rainfall, warmer summers, and warmer winters, we can expect to see more of these large wasp nests.
"A normal nest might contain 10,000 workers. This nest was 100,000 to 200,000 workers," Lester told 1News.
ONE INIMITABLE INTERVIEW
Seven Sharp's Hilary Barry spoke to Miriam Margolyes — the actor, comedian and British-Australian national treasure who likes to shock. The pair spoke about Harry Potter, Margolyes' upcoming stage show, and her new role as the voice of Badjelly the Witch.
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